The Meteora monasteries are not like wherever. Throughout my final go to, I used to be blown away by the unimaginable magnificence I discovered right here. Be taught the historical past, tips on how to go to Meteora, and extra on this article.
Nature is like an artist engaged on landscapes; utilizing small brush strokes on a canvas, taking tens of millions of years to color, and but the masterpiece is rarely accomplished.
Within the case of the Meteora monasteries, plainly the painter went a bit extra summary than normal by abandoning the usually delicate, harmonious traces and changing them with highly effective vertical strokes. Breaking the standard kind and creating one thing that appears extra alien than earthly.
The result is a spot scattered with monumental boulders — a lot of them column-shaped and rising vertically to the sky, consisting of sandstone and conglomerate that when was a part of a delta seabed.
Journey Information to Visiting Meteora, Greece
A few of the Meteora monasteries are so tightly constructed on these pillar tops, that it appears as if they’re built-in into the rock.
To make issues look much more excessive, a handful of monks climbed a number of of those columns in the beginning of the 14th century and constructed greater than 20 monasteries on the high of their jagged peaks!
Meteora is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Greece for every type of vacationers. Be certain it’s firmly positioned in your Greece journey itinerary.
How you can Get to Meteora (Kalambaka)
There are trains and buses leaving from Athens and Thessaloniki for Kalambaka (the primary city to go to Meteora from) every day. Or when you’d moderately be part of a tour and have all of it simply deliberate out for you, try the varied excursions on provide beneath.
From Athens to Meteora
Listed below are a number of the finest methods to get to the city of Kalambaka, on the foot of Meteora, from Athens.
Athens to Meteora by Practice: There’s an categorical practice (quantity 884) each morning going direct from the central station in Athens (Larissa Station) to Kalambaka at 7:20 within the morning. It prices €20 – €40 relying on the category you e-book and it takes round 4 hours.
There are a lot of different decisions with a center cease all through the day however price a bit extra. Discover out extra concerning the practice right here. A neater technique to get to Meteora by practice is by becoming a member of a day journey.
This extremely rated journey contains the practice journies, visiting the 8 monasteries, and going contained in the hermit caves. A information, practice tickets, pick-up and drop-off, and water are included on this enjoyable day journey. Discover out extra and reserve your spot, right here.
Athens to Meteora by Bus: 5 buses depart every single day from Athens (Liossion Bus Station) to Kalambaka, by way of Lamia and Trikala, and the fare prices €29, return price is €49. The length is round 5 hours. See the bus timetable right here.
Tour from Athens to Meteora: A simple technique to go to the unimaginable Meteora Monasteries and never have to fret concerning the logistics of transportation is to affix a day journey. This extremely rated journey contains visiting the monasteries, the practice tickets, pick-up out of your lodging, a information and extra. Discover out particulars, learn critiques, and reserve your spot, right here.
From Thessaloniki to Meteora (Kalambaka)
Listed below are a number of the methods you’ll be able to journey from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka, which is the city situated on the foot of Meteora.
Thessaloniki to Meteora by Practice: There are a number of decisions every single day, all with a center cease. Make your technique to New Railway station (Neos Sidirodromikos Stathmos) within the middle of Thessaloniki and catch the practice there. It could take from 2.5 to three hours to get from Thessaloniki to Kalambaka and the fare is between €15 and €25.
Thessaloniki to Meteora by Bus: There aren’t any direct buses, however you’ll be able to swap at Trikala. There are 4 buses a day going to Kalambaka from Thessaloniki by way of Trikala. In whole, it takes round 3.5 hours and the ticket prices €22.
Excursions from Thessaloniki to Meteora: A simple technique to go to the monasteries from Thessaloniki is by tour. This manner, you gained’t have to fret concerning the logistics of getting there, and also you’ll be with a information so you’ll be able to be taught extra concerning the historical past of the realm.
On this tour, you’ll get to Meteora by practice, with tickets, a information, free time, visits to the monasteries, and water included within the value. Discover out extra right here.
The place to Keep in Meteora
Principally, there are two decisions close to Meteora: the cities of Kalambaka and Kastraki.
Kalambaka City
This small city has quite a lot of lodging for each finances ranging from €35 and going all the way in which to €100. The truth that it has a practice and a bus station makes it very handy.
There are many eating places and cafes (try the extremely rated Restaurant Meteora) plus it has a really good pure historical past and mushroom museum when you have the time. Click on right here to seek out the museum on the map. Meteora is round ten minutes from the town middle both by taxi or public bus.
For lodging in Kalambaka, you’ll be able to’t beat the views of Meteora at Resort Doupiani Home! This highly-rated lodging is simply steps from the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas. Click on right here to be taught extra and e-book your keep. Or, click on right here to check prices and skim critiques of the perfect guesthouses, inns and lodging in Kalambaka.
Kastraki Village
This scenic village is situated on the foot of two monumental rocks. It has a perfect location if you wish to hike Meteora since many of the trails begin simply outdoors the village. With a inhabitants of simply 1,500 folks, this can be a peaceable place to remain.
Kastraki Village has a number of choices for sleeping and eating places to select from. The price for a twin room fluctuates between €40 and €100.
Final time I visited Meteora, I stayed in Pyrgos Adrachti – a small resort subsequent to Adrachti Boulder with a panoramic view from the north aspect.
As for meals, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious with many of the native taverns. The delicacies is wonderful and the substances are as recent as in the remainder of Greece. Costs are truthful contemplating the proximity to such a sizzling touristic web site.
Click on right here to check prices and skim critiques of the perfect guesthouses, inns and lodging in Kastraki Village.
How you can Get Across the Meteora Monasteries
Let me say upfront that it’s tough to go to all monasteries in a single day. If you happen to actually wish to discover Meteora, it’s important to spend a minimum of two days there.
Apart from mountaineering solo or in teams organized by the native guides, you’ll be able to tour across the monasteries in a rental automotive, a taxi, or the general public bus that begins each two hours from Kalambaka.
In addition to the basic monastery excursions, there are some guides offering sundown excursions to nice viewpoints in addition to extra excessive mountaineering and mountaineering excursions with a by way of cordata (a rope that you’re hooked up to with a harness).
Take a look at this sundown journey out of Kalambaka, or this enjoyable morning mountaineering journey. For a highly-rated, inexpensive, half-day sightseeing tour (with a pick-up from both Kalambaka or Kastraki), click on right here.
The Six Meteora Monasteries
On the peak of the Sixteenth century, there have been 24 monasteries, at present solely six monasteries are open, whereas the remaining are in ruins. Every of those monasteries has a €3 entrance charge. Children underneath 12 are free. Opening occasions can change so all the time test on-line earlier than visiting.
When you find yourself visiting the Meteora monasteries keep in mind that there are guidelines about clothes, principally for girls who must put on lengthy skirts in an effort to get in. In any case, there are particular garments on the gates that they provide you to placed on high of your present clothes, in case your skirt or gown is on the “quick” aspect.
Inside, you’re solely allowed to go to sure sections of the monasteries and the monks are remoted in quarters the place entrance shouldn’t be allowed.
1. Nice Meteoron Monastery
The monastery that gave its title to the entire space is often known as the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ. It’s the largest and an important in Meteora.
Its development within the 14th century is taken into account a turning level and initiated a brand new period of monasticism within the space.
It sits on high of an enormous rock known as “Platis lithos” which implies broad rock in Greek. Its library is likely one of the biggest of its variety and has probably the most in depth assortment of codices and previous books in Meteora.
The Nice Meteoron Monastery additionally has a museum devoted to the fashionable historical past and struggles of Greece from the revolution of 1821 towards the Ottoman Empire till WWII. The unique absolutely outfitted kitchen and the cellar with the 12.000-litre wine barrel are of nice curiosity.
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 9:00 to 17:00. The monastery is closed on Tuesdays.
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 9:30 to 14:00. The monastery is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Contact Quantity: +30 24320 22278
2. Varlaam Monastery
This monastery has taken its title from hermit Varlaam who climbed its mighty pillar again in 1350. There, he constructed a small cell to sleep together with three chapels.
After his loss of life, the place remained abandoned for nearly 2 hundred years till two brothers from the town of Ioannina renovated the chapels and began constructing the monastery again in 1518.
Entry to the highest was notoriously tough because the wood ladders that led there have been fairly harmful. In a while, they had been changed by a web which was pulled to the highest with a rope. Ultimately, stairs had been carved into the rock which allowed simple and secure entry.
Don’t miss the Sixteenth-century oak barrel which was used for water storage and the museum with spiritual work.
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 9:00 to 16:00. The monastery is closed on Fridays.
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 9:00 to fifteen:00. The monastery is closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Contact Quantity – +30 24320 22277
3. Saint Stephen’s Nunnery
This nunnery has distinctive tiled roofs and crimson-colored domes that make a robust distinction towards the Greek blue sky. It incorporates a wealthy assortment of codices and is well accessible by crossing a small bridge, moderately than mountaineering up rock-cut steps.
It’s additionally the closest monastery to the town of Kalambaka because the crow flies. This convent presents unimaginable views of the town, the valley of Thessaly, and the Pindos mountain vary.
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 9:00 – 13:30 and 15:30 – 17:30. Closed on Mondays.
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 9:30 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 17:00. Closed on Mondays.
4. Holy Trinity Monastery
From the best Meteora monastery to succeed in to probably the most tough.
The Holy Trinity Monastery sits on a really steep boulder and has probably the most tough entry, however when you make an effort to succeed in the highest, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful panoramic views. You’ll get some unimaginable photographs right here.
Guests should climb 140 steps in an effort to get to its door on the high. No surprise it took monks nearly 70 years to finish its development.
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 10:00 – 16:00. Closed on Thursdays.
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 10:00 – 16:00. Closed on Thursdays.
5. Saint Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery
This multilevel monastery is the primary one you’ll see after Kastraki on the way in which to Meteora. It’s very small and doesn’t have a yard however what it has is probably the most wonderful frescoes of all of the monasteries in Meteora.
They had been painted by the hand of the Cretan artist Theophanes Bathas Strelitzas who was a distinguished painter of the Cretan faculty to which Domenikos Theotokopoulos (often called El Greko) additionally belonged.
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 9:00 – 17:00
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 9:00 – 16:00 Monday – Saturday. 9:30 – 16:00 on Sundays.
6. Roussanou Monastery
The second monastery you’ll encounter coming from Kastraki sits on probably the most spectacular pillar of all. Surrounded by many different boulders of this “stone forest”, it’s the centerpiece of this dreamy panorama.
Though at a reasonably low elevation, it was nonetheless tough for Monks to make the trek to the highest. Ultimately, a web was put in which nonetheless took half-hour to get them up there.
For my part, the Roussanou Monastery is likely one of the most lovely monasteries to {photograph} throughout sundown. There’s additionally a pathway main from the monastery, test it out!
Opening Hours:
- Summer season (April 1 – October 31): 9:00 – 16:30. Closed on Wednesdays.
- Winter (November 1 – March 31): 9:30 – 14:00. Closed on Wednesdays.
Different Meteora Monasteries
Saint Antonios, Saint Nikolaos Pantovas, and Ipapanti are three spectacular monasteries hidden inside large rock cavities. They don’t have monks anymore and are tougher to entry however if you wish to see one thing distinctive even by Meteora requirements, they’re wonderful.
There are additionally numerous sketes which you’ll see right here and so they’re in cavities on the rock faces. These are simply recognizable from the slender wood balconies and ladders which might be perched there.
Historical past of the Meteora Monasteries
The primary hermits arrived in Meteora on the finish of the tenth century and created the primary sketes (small monastic communities). These folks wished to stay in full isolation and the inaccessibility of the realm supplied simply that.
They lived and slept in caverns and rock fissures and their solely occupation was praying for the salvation of themselves and the world.
The one time the hermits left their sketes was as soon as per week. Each Sunday, they’d hike to the small temple they’d constructed on the south aspect of Doupiani Rock to have a mass collectively and converse concerning the issues of the neighborhood. That was additionally the one time within the week that they’d a correctly cooked meal.
This routine went on for greater than 3 centuries till a monk named Athanasios constructed the primary monastery on high of a boulder known as the “Broad Rock” and named it Nice Meteoro.
Extra Meteora monasteries had been constructed after that and finally, they reached a complete of 24 when monasticism (monkhood) in Meteora was at its peak in the course of the Sixteenth century.
The logistics wanted for all of this development had been a nightmare, but when the monks had one thing in abundance, it was time.
Carrying supplies and build up on the rocky pillars was a treacherous enterprise however they managed to beat many difficulties by wedging beams on the rock partitions and setting up scaffolds.
A lot later, they changed the scaffolding with nets and baskets that they pulled to the highest with a rope. A significantly better resolution, however nonetheless not solely secure.
Firstly of the twentieth century, many monasteries right here had stairs carved within the rock which made the entry a lot simpler. It was this that opened Meteora monasteries to the skin world and allowed the primary guests to reach.
Amongst them, the well-known Swiss traveler and photographer Frederic Boissonnas visited Meteora in 1930 and made its existence recognized to the remainder of the world together with his iconic pictures.
Later in 1981, the James Bond film “For Your Eyes Solely” with Roger Moore would function the Holy Trinity monastery as a capturing location and convey Meteora into the highlight with some spectacular motion scenes.
☞ Planning to journey to different areas of Greece? Be certain to take a look at our articles for some journey inspiration: Issues To Do in Ios, Greatest Seashores in Greece, Issues To Do in Corfu, a Journey Information to Lesvos Greece, a Journey Information to Chios Greece, a Journey Information to Kefalonia Greece, Climate in Greece (when is the perfect time to go to?) and Issues To Do in Zakynthos.
Meteora Monasteries At present
Individuals from everywhere in the world collect on this comparatively small space of the Thessaly Plain to go to Meteora monasteries and admire the breathtaking landscapes round them.
Meteora is likely one of the most visited locations in Greece however happily, it’s remained comparatively untouched by the tourism progress. Then again, the close by cities of Kalambaka and Kastraki village have grown considerably within the final century since they function a base for almost all of tourists to the Meteora monasteries.
Meteora can also be a well-known mountaineering web site in Greece and probably the most acknowledged in Europe. Climbing any of the 6 monastery boulders shouldn’t be allowed however there are 100 extra within the neighborhood. The native climbers provide excursions appropriate for everybody, from first-timers to consultants. Click on right here for a extremely rated mountaineering tour.
One other exercise that thrives right here is images. For sure that the terrain presents limitless angles on the hanging landscapes. With monasteries teetering on the high of large limestone rocks, your pictures are certain to be spectacular.
Telephones can do a reasonably good job of taking photographs these days, however a correct digital camera on a tripod can actually shine on the market – or higher but, a drone.
Throughout my final go to, I shot a few of my hottest images (you’ll be able to take a look right here). My solely recommendation is that you must look ahead to the sundown when the final mild hits the monasteries giving the rocks a golden glow and serving to their texture to be highlighted. The identical goes for dawn when you don’t thoughts the early wake-up.
The snow in winter and early morning mists could make the identical shot look solely completely different. Due to this, most photographers return, time and again, to shoot the Meteora monasteries all year long.
Don’t Miss Meteora
Meteora monasteries reside relics which have remained untouched by time for greater than 500 years. In contrast to museums and different historic websites, in Meteora, you could have the chance to totally immerse your self within the historical past of a spot that has managed to maintain fashionable life outdoors its boundaries.
Meteora has protected the monastic lifestyle that these folks have chosen to comply with for greater than a thousand years.
Contained in the Nice Meteoron Monastery is a bone chamber full of the skulls of all monks that lived and died there. If you see them, you notice how these folks had been (and nonetheless are) an inseparable piece of this stone forest, a spot that supplied them safety and allowed them to stay their silent lives having discovered God on this desolate, lovely place.
